WEBVTT

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 Good morning. It's good to see you all here. If you're wondering, Pastor Nick and his family are up at Shoreline Bible Church in New London, preaching.

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! If you don't know about Shoreline, they're kind of a daughter church of ours in that a group of guys came down and were part of our church from New London and they kept sharing and gathering people so effectively that it seemed like God was wanting to plant a church up there.

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 So we helped them plant a church, which is great, and they're flourishing up there and Pastor Nick is preaching up there this weekend.

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 So, I want to begin this morning by asking you a question. How do we respond when faced with opposition to the gospel of Jesus?

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 This has been a high-level discussion in American society for the last 10 years.

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 We think of a cake decorator in Colorado who was sued for not making a wedding cake for a couple that did not match his Christian views of marriage.

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 We think of a football coach in Washington State who was suspended and terminated for his participation in on-field prayer after the games.

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 I know of a pastor here in Connecticut who has been seeking a place for their congregation to meet permanently,

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 who continues to face opposition from the town zoning board, seemingly without any real basis.

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 These are the local things that we hear about in America.

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 When we turn our eyes globally, we see that opposition is much more severe and sometimes much more consequential.

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 South Sudan is marred by violence against Christians.

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 Pastors in Central Asia are arrested and beaten.

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 Churches in China are raised.

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 Whether they're governmental or social opposition,

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 there is a lot of opposition to the gospel of Jesus in the world.

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 Churches in the world.

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 How do we respond to this?

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 We often want to respond on a horizontal level.

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 We want to appeal to human rights.

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 Or here in America, we want to appeal to American citizenry and look for legal and societal grounds to contest these actions.

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 And as we see in the Bible, there is actually a place for this.

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 We'll see as we go along in the book of Acts.

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 In Acts 16, when Paul was arrested, he was in jail in Philippi.

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 And he appealed to his Roman citizenry as a way of trying to call out the injustice of the way that he had been treated.

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 And we'll see also in Acts 22 in Jerusalem.

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 Again, Paul being arrested in the temple for his preaching of Jesus for all people, including Gentiles.

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 The Jews were provoked and caused a stir, and he was arrested.

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 And he called upon his Roman citizenship when he was about to be beaten.

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 But interestingly, even there, his goal was not to be free, but his goal was to preach the gospel.

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 All that to say, there may be times when appropriate appeals to the laws of the land are good and right.

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 And God may use those things to help and bring aid to his people.

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 But he may not.

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 And our hope is not in winning a culture war or in securing governmental protection.

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 Our hope in the face of opposition is much richer and deeper.

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 It's in the person of God.

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 And this is what we see in the early church.

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 And this is what we see in our passage this morning.

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 So, this is what we're going to turn to.

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 We're in Acts 4.

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 That is in page, I think, it's page 858 or 869, depending on the printing of the Bible you have.

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 Again, that's book of Acts chapter 4.

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 And if you remember, if you were here last week, as we continue to preach through the book of Acts

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 and what God is doing in the world to establish the church so that Jesus Christ and the salvation he brings

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 will be proclaimed to all peoples, we see this narrative story in chapter 4.

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 Remember in chapter 3, John and Peter went to the temple and healed a man?

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 Well, in chapter 4, they get arrested for it.

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 They get brought in on charges.

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 And they're asked and confronted,

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 by what name or by what authority can you do this?

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 And they say, we did this by the name of Jesus.

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 And the authorities can't really punish them for healing a guy because that's a bad look.

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 But they're not quite sure what to do because they're greatly annoyed.

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 And so, in verse 18 of chapter 4, they said,

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 so they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

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 And Peter responds and says, choose to yourself what's right here,

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 but we're going to keep talking about Jesus.

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 And then they go away.

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 They warn them again and beat them and sent them away.

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 Right?

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 And so, when we come to our passage this morning,

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 it's these two, John and Peter,

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 returning to the gathered disciples in Jerusalem, the gathered church,

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 and giving a report of what they've heard.

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 And we see how they responded to this situation.

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 And so, we're going to see not only what they did then,

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 but also what this has to teach us today.

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 So, with that, let me pray for God's help as we look at this.

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 And then we'll look at God's Word together.

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 Father, thank you, Lord, for your Word.

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 Thank you that you have recorded your acts

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 in establishing and building the church

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 so that the name of Jesus may be proclaimed to the end of the earth.

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 Lord, we pray this morning that you would help us

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 to see all that you have for us in this Word

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 about what it means to be your people,

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 and particularly how we are to respond, Lord,

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 to hard things, to trials, to opposition.

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 Lord, I pray for your help,

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 that you would help me to speak clearly as I ought.

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 And I pray for us this morning, Lord,

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 that we would be submissive to your Word,

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 that we would sit under it,

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 knowing that it is a Word of life to us

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 and a revelation of who you are.

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 Lord, that we would receive your Word this morning

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 by your Spirit.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 How did the early church respond?

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 How are we to respond to opposition?

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 They prayed.

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 It's very simple.

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 That's the theme of my sermon this morning.

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 They prayed.

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 And so we're going to look at the context of prayer,

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 the focus of prayer,

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 the request of prayer,

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 and the result of prayer.

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 And so there's your outline,

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 if you're wanting to follow along.

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 The first thing, then,

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 is the context of prayer in verses 23 through 24a.

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 Oh, I haven't read this yet, have I?

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 Well, let's read God's Word together.

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 Yeah, that's a great idea.

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 Okay, let me read this,

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 and then we'll look at it.

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 All right, so verse 23 of chapter 4.

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 When they were released,

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 they went to their friends

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 and reported what the chief priests

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 and the elders had said to them.

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 And when they'd heard it,

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 they lifted their voices together to God

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 and said,

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 Sovereign Lord,

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 who made the heaven and the earth

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 and the sea and everything in them,

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 who through the mouth of our father David,

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 your servant,

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 said by the Holy Spirit,

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 why do the Gentiles rage

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 and the peoples plot in vain?

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 The kings of the earth set themselves,

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 and the rulers were gathered together

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 against the Lord

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 and against his anointed.

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 For truly in this city,

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 there were gathered together

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 against your holy servant Jesus,

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 whom you anointed,

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 both Herod and Pontius Pilate,

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 along with the Gentiles

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 and the peoples of Israel,

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 to do whatever your hand

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 and your plan had predestined

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 to take place.

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 And now, Lord,

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 look upon their threats

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 and grant to your servants

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 to continue to speak

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 your word with all boldness

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 while you stretch out your hand

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 to heal,

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 and signs and wonders

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 are performed

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 through the name

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 of your holy servant Jesus.

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 And when they had prayed,

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 the place in which they were gathered

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 together was shaken,

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 and they were all filled

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 with the Holy Spirit

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 and continued to speak

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 the word of God

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 with boldness.

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 So we've seen verses 23 and 24,

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 our first point,

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 which is the context of prayer.

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 The disciples return,

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 they come to the gathered people,

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 they're together and gathering,

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 and they're hearing a report

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 of the warning

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 that they had received

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 from the authorities,

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 and in response to this,

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 they turned to the Lord

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 and they prayed.

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 Now, it's important

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 just to start by saying

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 they didn't file a protest,

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 they didn't whine and complain,

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 they didn't blame God

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 or cry out in despair,

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 they didn't write online posts

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 decrying the evil

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 of those who opposed them,

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 they turned to God

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 in prayer.

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 Now, I'm going to spend

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 a little bit of an excursus

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 on this this morning.

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 Is this how we would have responded?

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 And I ask that question

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 because my fear

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 is that too much

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 of the church

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 is consumed

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 with what I would call

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 a culture war response

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 to opposition

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 to the gospel.

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 There has been

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 a desire to,

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 an increase in the desire

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 to gain control

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 of cultural influence,

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 to find avenues of power,

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 to shape and mold

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 societal narratives,

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 to turn the tide

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 of secularism

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 through political

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 or social influence.

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 And listen,

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 we live in a society

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 that is broadly,

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 increasingly moving away

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 from a historic

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 Judeo-Christian ethic

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 that has shaped it.

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 And we feel that loss

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 and we feel the tensions.

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 And we want to see

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 our society

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 reestablish

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 this Judeo-Christian

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 foundation

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 because we believe

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 it's good,

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 because we believe

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 it would bless

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 our country.

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 And so,

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 in response to this,

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 we often make

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 an appeal

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 to human rights

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 or rights as a human,

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 as American citizens,

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 looking for legal

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 and social grounds

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 to contest

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 actions

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 that would

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 go contrary

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 to this.

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 But,

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 these actions,

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 not only in

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 what we do,

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 but how we do them,

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 it's so important

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 to recognize

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 how we do them.

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 If we are going

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 to engage

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 in social action

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 to influence

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 our society

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 in various ways,

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 I want to give

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 five points of perspective

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 briefly on

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 how we might do it well

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 before we return

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 to what I see

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 as actually

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 the point of our passage

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 this morning,

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 which is,

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 the greatest thing

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 we can do is pray.

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 But,

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 if we are going

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 to do this,

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 let's look at this.

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 Here are five points,

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 right?

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 First,

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 it is right and good

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 for us to seek

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 to inform and influence

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 societies towards godliness

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 because we believe

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 it's good.

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 I've already said that.

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 I won't belabor it.

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 The second thing is,

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 the means by which

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 we do this

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 must match

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 the scriptural pattern

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 in the New Testament.

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 What we see

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 in the New Testament

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 is that we do so

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 by appeals

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 and persuasion,

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 not by using

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 powers

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 or forces.

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 It is not an attempt

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 to gain control

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 of the situation,

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 but to believe

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 that God will work

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 as we proclaim

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 and appeal

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 to what is right

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 and good

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 in the world.

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 Bold and humble

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 obedience to God

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 is something

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 that we can

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.980
 continue to do

00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:07.919
 regardless of

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:09.700
 how others act.

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:10.819
 Speaking the truth

00:12:10.819 --> 00:12:11.659
 in love

00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:12.620
 is a means

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.639
 by which we are

00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:14.539
 to live out

00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.919
 whatever we do.

00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.220
 Third point,

00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.080
 the church

00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.879
 has historically

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.100
 neither required

00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:22.759
 nor expected

00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.500
 governmental

00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:25.480
 or societal

00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:26.419
 support.

00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:28.860
 We could have

00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:29.779
 a long conversation

00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:30.179
 about this,

00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:30.799
 but when you look

00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.279
 at the church

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:32.259
 throughout the ages,

00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:33.820
 it's just not necessary.

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:36.419
 We may not hold

00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.039
 to the belief

00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.700
 that the church

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:38.679
 must have

00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.600
 societal support

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.299
 for us to be

00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:40.820
 who we are.

00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.480
 In fact,

00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:41.899
 the church

00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:43.200
 typically flourishes

00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.639
 in opposition

00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:45.899
 as much as it does

00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.480
 with government support.

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.899
 So that's my third point.

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:52.659
 Fourth point,

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.759
 we should expect

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.399
 opposition

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.559
 and not think

00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:56.039
 that there's

00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:56.819
 something wrong,

00:12:56.939 --> 00:12:57.779
 but just to know

00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.759
 that this is part

00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.460
 of what it means

00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.379
 to be God's people

00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.379
 in a fallen world.

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.360
 So remember

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.319
 what Jesus says

00:13:03.319 --> 00:13:04.299
 in John 15,

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:05.639
 remember the word

00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:06.379
 I said to you,

00:13:06.439 --> 00:13:07.439
 a servant is not

00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.600
 greater than his master.

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:10.059
 If they persecuted me,

00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:10.879
 they will also

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.039
 persecute you.

00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:14.539
 And then my fifth point

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:15.139
 is this,

00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.480
 when we think about it

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.460
 as a culture war,

00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.059
 so often we make

00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:21.639
 the other our enemy.

00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:23.039
 we make people

00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.819
 our enemies.

00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:24.580
 And yet,

00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.939
 what did Jesus say

00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:27.360
 even about our enemies?

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.480
 You have heard it said,

00:13:30.819 --> 00:13:31.639
 you shall love your neighbor

00:13:31.639 --> 00:13:32.519
 and hate your enemy,

00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.819
 but I say to you,

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:35.199
 love your enemies

00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:37.179
 and pray for those

00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:38.240
 who persecute you,

00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:40.039
 so that you may be

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.939
 sons of your Father

00:13:40.939 --> 00:13:41.840
 who is in heaven.

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.919
 For he makes his Son

00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.620
 rise on the evil

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.419
 and on the good

00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.860
 and sends rain

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.519
 on the just

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.539
 and on the unjust.

00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:51.019
 For if you love

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:52.199
 those who love you,

00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:53.639
 what reward do you have?

00:13:54.199 --> 00:13:55.779
 Do not even the tax collectors

00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:56.740
 do the same.

00:13:59.179 --> 00:13:59.740
 All right,

00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:01.199
 so this is a framework

00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:02.159
 in which Christians,

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.860
 if we are going to engage

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.919
 in some of these things,

00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:06.319
 we need to think about

00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:07.719
 how we do it

00:14:07.719 --> 00:14:09.279
 so that we are

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.500
 sons of the Father,

00:14:10.599 --> 00:14:11.599
 which means we are those

00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:12.459
 who reflect

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:13.939
 our Heavenly Father

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:15.399
 as daughters and sons of Him.

00:14:15.599 --> 00:14:17.099
 We are meant to embody

00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:18.139
 their character,

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.460
 which does mean

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:20.519
 standing for righteousness

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.159
 and goodness,

00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:22.460
 but it also means

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:24.240
 graciousness and love,

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:26.059
 just like He sends rain

00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.620
 on our whole world.

00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:28.559
 How do we seek

00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.439
 to be a blessing

00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.899
 to our whole world

00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.879
 and not simply a judge?

00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:34.059
 Okay?

00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.259
 All right,

00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.439
 that was an excursus.

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.659
 We don't normally talk

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:38.639
 about this stuff at Trinity.

00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:39.639
 You guys have probably

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.299
 figured it out,

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.120
 but this,

00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:41.840
 it felt like,

00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:42.700
 was an opportunity

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.600
 to address that.

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.039
 What I want to go back to

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.539
 is say,

00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.100
 the early church,

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.019
 what did they do?

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:50.060
 Instead of social action,

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:52.100
 they turned to God

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:52.980
 in prayer.

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:55.779
 Why?

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:57.460
 What did they focus on

00:14:57.460 --> 00:14:58.000
 in their prayer?

00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.500
 This is my second point.

00:14:59.920 --> 00:15:01.460
 Verses 24 through 28,

00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.100
 look with me.

00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.300
 When they started,

00:15:03.659 --> 00:15:04.920
 how did they pray to God?

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.560
 Look at the first word,

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.480
 sovereign Lord.

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:09.639
 It's this great word.

00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.500
 It's actually the word

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.300
 that has the root

00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:12.519
 for despot today.

00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.200
 That is,

00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.060
 it's someone who has

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:15.000
 absolute,

00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.439
 complete control

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.000
 and authority

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.259
 over everything.

00:15:20.859 --> 00:15:22.139
 That's where they start.

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.139
 And when he,

00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:24.699
 when they end their prayer,

00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.059
 this part,

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.819
 this section,

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:27.299
 and particularly

00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.019
 in verse 28,

00:15:28.119 --> 00:15:29.119
 what did they reaffirm?

00:15:29.439 --> 00:15:30.899
 That even the enemies

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.839
 of God are doing

00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:34.019
 exactly what God

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:35.319
 intended to do

00:15:35.319 --> 00:15:36.079
 to accomplish

00:15:36.079 --> 00:15:37.399
 His good works

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.039
 of redemption

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.919
 in the world.

00:15:39.359 --> 00:15:41.099
 That's what verse 28 says.

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:42.340
 And in the middle of it,

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.639
 He fills this out.

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:46.379
 So what the people of God do

00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:47.500
 in the face of opposition

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.960
 is they look to God

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.840
 and remember in particular

00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.620
 that He is a sovereign God.

00:15:55.080 --> 00:15:56.860
 He is the sovereign God

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.279
 who created everything,

00:15:58.600 --> 00:15:59.639
 which means that there is

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:01.600
 no power in this creation

00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:03.060
 greater than the one

00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:04.159
 who created it.

00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:09.500
 They turn to Psalm 42,

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:11.700
 the words that Jeff read earlier.

00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:13.679
 A Psalm of the Old Testament

00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.740
 people of God

00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:16.460
 as they cried out

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:18.759
 in the face of opposition.

00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:21.740
 And it's a great,

00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.259
 you know,

00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.039
 it's a great Psalm.

00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.279
 I wish we could spend all day

00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.879
 just doing the Psalm.

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:28.220
 But to say that

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:28.940
 as they,

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.639
 in the picture

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:32.399
 of the raging opposition

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.740
 of the nations of the world

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.059
 against God

00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.440
 and against those

00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.780
 that God had anointed

00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:40.380
 to represent Him

00:16:40.380 --> 00:16:40.980
 in the world,

00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.360
 in the Old Testament Israel,

00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:43.920
 in the New Testament we see

00:16:43.920 --> 00:16:45.700
 it's Jesus, right?

00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:48.200
 God will vindicate

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.360
 and elevate

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.360
 His holy ones

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.100
 and none of the powers

00:16:53.100 --> 00:16:54.360
 that stand against them

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:56.360
 will in the end prevail.

00:16:57.900 --> 00:16:59.300
 God laughs.

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:06.200
 Even the greatest enemies

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.039
 of God

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.220
 in the view,

00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:09.720
 in view of a sovereign God

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.799
 is like a two-year-old

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.919
 throwing a tantrum.

00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.619
 And as a father,

00:17:14.919 --> 00:17:15.819
 he may allow him

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.639
 to throw a tantrum

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.599
 for a few minutes

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.859
 to just let him

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:19.480
 get his arrow.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.859
 But in the end,

00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:21.599
 right,

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:23.259
 he has no power.

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.940
 That two-year-old

00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.819
 has no power

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.639
 to contend

00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:28.019
 or to change

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.859
 that father.

00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:31.659
 And what he will accomplish.

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.599
 And God looks

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.319
 at the powers

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.059
 of the world

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:36.680
 that oppose him

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:38.579
 and he laughs.

00:17:39.879 --> 00:17:40.700
 He says,

00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.720
 you have no power.

00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.700
 Verse 27,

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.399
 then the church

00:17:48.399 --> 00:17:49.799
 applies the psalm

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:51.359
 from the Old Testament

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.960
 to the very

00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.579
 present realities

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.779
 of the opposition

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:58.500
 against the anointed

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.579
 one that they knew,

00:17:59.899 --> 00:18:00.660
 which is Jesus.

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.819
 And think about this.

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.839
 Think about how,

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.180
 where they were situated.

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.160
 This small group

00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.819
 of believers

00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.379
 now recount

00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:11.180
 that all of the

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.039
 societal powers

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.680
 around them

00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:13.420
 were against them.

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.319
 Herod was

00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:16.420
 the Jewish leadership,

00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.039
 political

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.980
 and social

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.720
 and religious.

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.119
 Pilate

00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:22.039
 was the governmental

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.660
 and military power.

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.160
 Both of them

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:25.740
 opposed,

00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:26.320
 right?

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.279
 But it wasn't just

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.660
 governmental

00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:28.640
 and institutional,

00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:29.940
 it was also societal.

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.980
 The people of God

00:18:31.980 --> 00:18:34.700
 or the people

00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.340
 of Israel

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.400
 in the first century

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.360
 opposed him

00:18:37.360 --> 00:18:38.500
 as did the crowds

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.300
 of Gentiles.

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.640
 So everybody

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.460
 stood against Jesus

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.500
 in his ministry

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:47.579
 and he was arrested

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.779
 and he was crucified.

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.160
 Jesus

00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.720
 faced opposition

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.339
 on every side.

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.000
 But that opposition

00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.180
 did not defeat him.

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.940
 God's redemptive plan

00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:04.819
 was far greater

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.420
 than that.

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.079
 Though Jesus

00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.880
 was opposed,

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.640
 arrested,

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.500
 beaten,

00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:10.420
 and crucified

00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:12.119
 and for all appearances

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:13.200
 he had lost,

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.500
 it was in that

00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.860
 very moment

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.519
 in fact

00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.779
 when he won.

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.840
 Because it was

00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:21.920
 at that very moment

00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.640
 that God's

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.960
 greatest plan

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.059
 was accomplished.

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.259
 It was at that

00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.920
 very moment

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.440
 when our redemption

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.380
 was secured.

00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:32.420
 Jesus'

00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.779
 voluntary death

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:34.500
 for us

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.620
 defeated

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:37.580
 the greatest enemy

00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:38.460
 that we face

00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:39.640
 which is not

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.200
 governmental opposition,

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.559
 which is not

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.180
 persecution

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:42.900
 and trials,

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.860
 but sin

00:19:44.860 --> 00:19:46.440
 and the result

00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:46.900
 of sin,

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.080
 death itself,

00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.019
 Jesus defeated

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.299
 by going to the cross

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.000
 for us.

00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:54.060
 And even those

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:55.600
 who opposed Jesus

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.640
 were instruments

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.660
 in God's hand

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.620
 to accomplish

00:19:58.620 --> 00:20:00.580
 this final

00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.779
 great work

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.420
 of redemption.

00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:04.120
 This was the

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.860
 centerpiece

00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:06.160
 of all of history

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:06.820
 for God.

00:20:07.100 --> 00:20:07.880
 And this then

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:09.259
 became the centerpiece

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.000
 of the church.

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.519
 This is what

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.660
 is most important.

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.700
 This is what

00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:14.619
 is most valuable.

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:16.099
 That Jesus Christ

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.220
 is our redeemer

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.140
 and able to

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.640
 redeem us

00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:19.400
 from sin

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.680
 and death.

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.160
 And so,

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:25.160
 verse 28,

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:26.759
 these opponents

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.480
 acted

00:20:27.480 --> 00:20:28.460
 to do whatever

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.359
 God's hand

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:30.759
 and God's plan

00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.200
 had predestined

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.859
 to take place.

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:37.259
 this is a sovereign

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:37.740
 God

00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:39.019
 to whom the church

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.859
 turned to.

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:43.879
 His sovereign power

00:20:43.879 --> 00:20:45.119
 is what we most need.

00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.919
 And friends,

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.500
 I wonder,

00:20:47.699 --> 00:20:49.240
 I wonder if your

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.979
 prayer life

00:20:49.979 --> 00:20:51.019
 has become stale

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:53.219
 because you've

00:20:53.219 --> 00:20:54.559
 been looking for God

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.359
 to fix things

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.519
 on a horizontal level

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.479
 rather than trying

00:20:57.479 --> 00:20:58.439
 to turn to God

00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.919
 as a sovereign power

00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:00.539
 and submitting

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.119
 yourself

00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.919
 and your requests

00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:02.919
 to Him.

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.879
 Opposition

00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:05.679
 is obviously

00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:07.019
 one great trial

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.979
 that we may face

00:21:07.979 --> 00:21:08.659
 in this life.

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.139
 You may be facing

00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.639
 opposition

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:11.519
 in your workplace

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.719
 or in your family,

00:21:15.679 --> 00:21:17.099
 in your classrooms,

00:21:17.699 --> 00:21:18.539
 in dormitories.

00:21:18.699 --> 00:21:19.539
 You may be facing

00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.319
 those who think

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.939
 that your faith

00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.579
 is foolish,

00:21:21.959 --> 00:21:22.579
 that your life

00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.159
 is wasted

00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:24.399
 in following Jesus.

00:21:25.219 --> 00:21:26.139
 You may face

00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.779
 those who are

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.459
 even more

00:21:27.459 --> 00:21:28.379
 angrily

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.739
 opposed to it.

00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.099
 This is real.

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.239
 Do you pray to God,

00:21:36.739 --> 00:21:37.539
 the sovereign God?

00:21:38.659 --> 00:21:39.839
 But it's not just

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.479
 in opposition.

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.879
 It's also in the

00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:43.139
 greater trials of life

00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:44.319
 where the opposition

00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.419
 of just living

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.319
 in a fallen world

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.299
 and what that means.

00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:48.559
 And so we may have

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:49.639
 broken relationships

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.799
 that we can't fix.

00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:52.219
 We may be facing needs

00:21:52.219 --> 00:21:53.139
 that we can't provide

00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:53.799
 for ourselves.

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:55.099
 We may be facing

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.779
 trials

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.919
 that we cannot

00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.939
 escape from.

00:21:57.940 --> 00:22:00.059
 and God wants us

00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:01.519
 to turn to Him

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.200
 as a sovereign God

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.299
 who has redeemed us

00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:04.940
 in Christ

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:07.700
 and find comfort

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:09.320
 and hope

00:22:09.320 --> 00:22:10.279
 and help.

00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:12.720
 And certainly

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.420
 there are times

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.980
 when God

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.799
 miraculously intervenes

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.240
 and aids

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.120
 and helps us

00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:19.279
 in our horizontal

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.000
 situations.

00:22:20.360 --> 00:22:21.000
 There are times

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.120
 when He brings relief.

00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.019
 But there are other times

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.759
 when He says,

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.100
 I will walk with you

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.959
 through the fire

00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:28.179
 and you will not

00:22:28.179 --> 00:22:28.740
 be burned.

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.199
 Right?

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.559
 You will still

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.819
 have to walk

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.399
 through the fire.

00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.559
 I'm not going to make

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.459
 the fire go away.

00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:36.939
 But as you walk

00:22:36.939 --> 00:22:37.299
 through it,

00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:38.159
 I will walk

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.259
 with you through it.

00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:42.119
 So His sovereign answer

00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:43.240
 doesn't always fix

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.179
 all of our problems

00:22:44.179 --> 00:22:45.339
 in this life.

00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:47.059
 But what it does do

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:48.500
 is have this great plan

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.379
 of drawing us

00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:51.059
 into His redemptive

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.519
 purposes

00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.099
 both for us

00:22:53.099 --> 00:22:55.379
 and for this world

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.219
 that we live in.

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.240
 And He calls us

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.159
 to be a people

00:22:59.159 --> 00:23:00.119
 who pray

00:23:00.119 --> 00:23:01.019
 because there is

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:02.099
 no opposition,

00:23:02.619 --> 00:23:03.459
 no enemy,

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.899
 and no trial

00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:06.379
 too great for Him.

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.639
 And all we have to do

00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.319
 to remember that

00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.299
 is to look at the cross.

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.419
 So because of that,

00:23:15.539 --> 00:23:15.839
 friends,

00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.899
 let us turn

00:23:16.899 --> 00:23:18.000
 to a sovereign God

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.559
 in prayer.

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.559
 So that's the second point.

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.079
 The context

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.440
 is the opposition.

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.259
 The focus

00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:27.259
 of the prayer

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.419
 is God's sovereignty.

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.599
 Verse 29 and 30,

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:32.179
 look at what they ask for

00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:33.639
 when they ask for help.

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.759
 When they actually

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.740
 turn from

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.759
 praising God

00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.879
 and recognizing Him,

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.980
 this is a great pattern

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:39.720
 of prayer, by the way,

00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.339
 start with who God is

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.700
 and then begin to

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.960
 maybe ask for,

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:46.079
 make petitions to Him,

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.019
 requests to Him.

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:48.819
 But what do they ask for?

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:49.920
 Right?

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:51.859
 Now, if we were in this,

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:53.039
 what might we pray for?

00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:53.740
 We might pray

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.359
 that the laws

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.039
 would be changed

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.619
 and enforced.

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.319
 We might pray

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.359
 for a supernatural intervention

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.519
 to protect us

00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:01.279
 from arrest or prison.

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.299
 We might pray

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.400
 that the person

00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.259
 who opposed us

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:06.339
 would be somehow removed.

00:24:06.619 --> 00:24:06.900
 Right?

00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:08.460
 We might pray

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.879
 for regime change

00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.700
 if we're in a really

00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:11.940
 terrible situation.

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.039
 Right?

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.859
 And the thing is,

00:24:14.879 --> 00:24:15.279
 we can pray

00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.139
 for all these things.

00:24:16.140 --> 00:24:17.140
 Freely,

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.060
 under a sovereign God,

00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:18.880
 we can pray

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.940
 for all of these things.

00:24:20.020 --> 00:24:20.780
 And I want you

00:24:20.780 --> 00:24:21.300
 to hear me say,

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.180
 it's not bad

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.320
 to pray for these things.

00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:25.120
 But here,

00:24:25.280 --> 00:24:26.220
 what is actually

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.640
 the thing

00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.420
 that they pray for?

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.900
 Look with me

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:30.680
 in verse 28

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:32.020
 or 29.

00:24:32.020 --> 00:24:33.100
 And now, Lord,

00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:34.860
 look upon their threats

00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:37.980
 and grant to your servants

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.960
 to continue to speak

00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.820
 your word

00:24:40.820 --> 00:24:42.080
 with boldness.

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:47.879
 what they prayed for

00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:49.859
 was that the gospel

00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:50.559
 would continue

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.399
 to go forward

00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.899
 and that they

00:24:52.899 --> 00:24:54.639
 would be empowered

00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.500
 by God

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.519
 to continue

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.240
 to be a part

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.819
 of this redemptive work

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.839
 in the world.

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.299
 In the face

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.000
 of opposition

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.279
 where it'd be so easy

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.059
 for fear

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:04.980
 to grip them

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.919
 and for them

00:25:05.919 --> 00:25:07.659
 to want to pull back

00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:09.460
 into a self-protective,

00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:13.900
 self-preserving mode.

00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:14.720
 Instead,

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.380
 they prayed,

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:15.799
 God,

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.100
 do what you need

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.299
 to do in us

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:20.400
 so that we can continue

00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.620
 to be bold

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:23.519
 and courageous

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:25.240
 and fearless

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:27.740
 because Jesus

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.740
 and His redemption

00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.019
 is so great

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.259
 and so wonderful

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:32.460
 that I never want

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:33.759
 to stop talking about it.

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.640
 They recognized

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:37.740
 how easy it would be

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.840
 for them to be afraid.

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:40.319
 Think about this.

00:25:42.139 --> 00:25:43.399
 They had just been

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.119
 pulled in

00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:44.959
 by the authorities

00:25:44.959 --> 00:25:45.619
 in Jerusalem

00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:46.099
 and said,

00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.359
 you can't do this

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:48.079
 anymore.

00:25:48.679 --> 00:25:49.199
 None.

00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.959
 Stop.

00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.299
 And they say,

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:52.659
 God,

00:25:54.179 --> 00:25:54.959
 pray that we would

00:25:54.959 --> 00:25:55.699
 have the boldness

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:56.759
 to be more obedient

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.459
 to you

00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:58.399
 than fearful

00:25:58.399 --> 00:25:59.279
 of them.

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.000
 Pray that we would

00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.079
 be so gospel-filled

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.220
 people that we couldn't

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.439
 stop talking about Him

00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:06.539
 no matter what

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.459
 the consequences

00:26:07.459 --> 00:26:08.119
 would be.

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:12.119
 they didn't ask

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.019
 for deliverance.

00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.599
 They asked

00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.299
 for redemption,

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.859
 that the redemption

00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:19.039
 they had experienced

00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:20.099
 would go so deep

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.879
 in their hearts

00:26:20.879 --> 00:26:21.599
 that they would be

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:22.720
 quick to share,

00:26:23.159 --> 00:26:23.859
 and redemption

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.259
 for those who would

00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:26.240
 hear because they

00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.339
 wouldn't be silent,

00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:28.699
 but because they

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:29.299
 would continue

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:29.980
 to share

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.579
 with boldness.

00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:36.079
 brothers and sisters,

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.639
 I wonder,

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.539
 how much do we

00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.139
 spend time

00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:40.099
 praying to God

00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:40.819
 to change our

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.599
 circumstances

00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.339
 so that they're

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.919
 easier,

00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.240
 or to take away

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.960
 the things that

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.460
 are fearful

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.759
 or scary

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.839
 or out of our

00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.319
 control,

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.839
 rather than praying

00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:50.480
 that God would

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.379
 change us

00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.879
 to meet these

00:26:52.879 --> 00:26:53.439
 things

00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:54.740
 with His

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.119
 heart

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:56.579
 for the redemption

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:58.019
 of both

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.599
 ourselves

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.899
 and the world?

00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.599
 Do we ask

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.359
 for boldness

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.319
 to share?

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.579
 Do we ask

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.039
 for help

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.639
 to be more

00:27:06.639 --> 00:27:07.139
 faithful,

00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:08.659
 more godly,

00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:09.879
 more changed

00:27:09.879 --> 00:27:10.740
 by His Spirit?

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:14.220
 Do we ask

00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.880
 for God

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.339
 to be in

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:15.759
 control,

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.900
 or do we ask

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.440
 Him to give

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.019
 us more

00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.500
 control

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.539
 over our

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.240
 circumstances?

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.279
 So,

00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:24.859
 the request

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.500
 is shocking

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.279
 and striking,

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:26.859
 isn't it?

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.799
 What they ask

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.059
 for,

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.940
 it's a wonderful

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.259
 thing,

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.200
 and they ask

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.079
 not only that,

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:31.539
 but they say,

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.120
 and God,

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.960
 will you continue

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.620
 to do the work

00:27:33.620 --> 00:27:34.920
 that you have

00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.700
 already set out

00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.059
 to do,

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:36.559
 right?

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:36.920
 So,

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.579
 do healing

00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:38.120
 and signs

00:27:38.120 --> 00:27:38.559
 and wonders.

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:38.900
 Why?

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.440
 Because they

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.120
 authenticate

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.620
 the preaching

00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.299
 of the gospel

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.279
 and the healing

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.059
 of the resurrected

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.679
 Christ,

00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.839
 most importantly

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.899
 by our spiritual

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.679
 redemption

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.339
 and healing

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.339
 of our souls.

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.519
 God,

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.000
 would You do

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.319
 that?

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.379
 Would You do

00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:52.819
 the work

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.159
 that would

00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:54.000
 authenticate

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.079
 this message

00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.619
 that we are

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.399
 asking for the

00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:56.859
 boldness?

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.019
 Would You do

00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.959
 whatever it takes

00:27:58.959 --> 00:28:00.099
 to open the eyes

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.519
 of those who

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.619
 don't yet see

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:04.039
 the glory of God

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.519
 in the face

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.039
 of Christ?

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.639
 Would You do

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.019
 this?

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:09.019
 God,

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.019
 would You do

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.019
 that?

00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.259
 You know,

00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.059
 it occurs to me

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.619
 that if this

00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.119
 is a very

00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:14.900
 unfamiliar way

00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.720
 for you to pray,

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:16.359
 I want to

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.000
 recommend a book.

00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.779
 It's a book

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.379
 called The Valley

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.859
 of Vision.

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.799
 It's written

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.480
 by old dead

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:20.799
 guys.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:21.839
 They're pretty

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.299
 much all

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.839
 old white

00:28:22.839 --> 00:28:23.339
 guys too.

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:23.599
 Sorry.

00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.359
 It's just,

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.359
 they're Puritans.

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.799
 I'm sorry,

00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.299
 they came from

00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:26.500
 Europe.

00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:26.920
 That's where,

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.980
 but they were

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.920
 godly men

00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.420
 who sought

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.819
 the Lord

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.440
 and The Valley

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.940
 of Vision

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.940
 is a book

00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:32.460
 of prayers

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:32.539
 prayers.

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.400
 And it's

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:34.860
 a wonderful

00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:35.160
 way,

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.480
 if you're

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:35.920
 not sure

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.640
 how to

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.100
 turn your

00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:37.519
 prayer life

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:37.799
 in this

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.180
 direction,

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.200
 let them

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.819
 guide you.

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.319
 Get this

00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:41.940
 book and

00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:42.840
 pray through

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:43.039
 it.

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.860
 Pray through

00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:45.240
 one a day.

00:28:45.420 --> 00:28:45.740
 And I know

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.319
 that sometimes

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:46.960
 feels weird

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.539
 because we

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:47.920
 want our

00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.380
 prayers to

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.039
 be spontaneous

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.539
 and come

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:49.840
 from our

00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:49.980
 heart,

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.720
 but let

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.220
 this be a

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.680
 chance for

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.640
 others who

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.059
 have walked

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.779
 before you

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.079
 in the

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.900
 faith to

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.539
 teach you

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:55.900
 how to

00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.220
 pray.

00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.380
 Just an

00:28:59.380 --> 00:28:59.880
 opportunity

00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.420
 or an

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.039
 exhortation

00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:01.600
 along that

00:29:01.600 --> 00:29:01.819
 line.

00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.460
 So,

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.099
 finally,

00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.339
 we've talked

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.200
 about the

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.240
 context of

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.519
 prayer being

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.200
 the opposition,

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.039
 the focus

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:11.159
 of prayer being

00:29:11.159 --> 00:29:11.659
 the sovereignty

00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.259
 of God,

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.819
 the request

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.599
 of prayer being

00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:16.039
 give us

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.639
 boldness to

00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.319
 continue to

00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:17.759
 preach the

00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.059
 gospel.

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.259
 Verse 31

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:19.980
 then is the

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.619
 result of

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:20.919
 prayer.

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:22.740
 God responds

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.039
 to their

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.419
 prayer,

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:23.939
 right?

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.339
 And when

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:24.679
 they had

00:29:24.679 --> 00:29:24.939
 prayed,

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.399
 the place

00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:25.700
 in which

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.000
 they were

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.299
 gathered

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:26.700
 together

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.259
 was shaken

00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.619
 and they

00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:27.919
 were all

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.279
 filled with

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:28.559
 the Holy

00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.379
 Spirit and

00:29:29.379 --> 00:29:30.019
 continued to

00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:30.480
 speak the

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:30.859
 word of

00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.299
 God with

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.839
 boldness.

00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:33.139
 Well,

00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.379
 friends,

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:33.779
 this could be

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.000
 a whole

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.519
 other sermon.

00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.599
 It won't

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:35.799
 be.

00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.859
 But just

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.359
 briefly,

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.819
 I want to

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.539
 say what

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:38.859
 a wonderful

00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.099
 thing.

00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.460
 First,

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:41.180
 God responded

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.619
 to their

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.059
 prayer.

00:29:42.379 --> 00:29:42.779
 How?

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.799
 By reminding

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.200
 them of

00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.960
 His presence.

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.599
 When the

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.139
 place was

00:29:46.139 --> 00:29:46.460
 shaken,

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.720
 this is an

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.359
 Old Testament

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.839
 picture that

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.180
 they would

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.799
 have understood,

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:51.579
 right?

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.000
 So,

00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:52.680
 when Moses

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.919
 takes people

00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:54.799
 to the feet

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.960
 of Mount

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.579
 Sinai,

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.319
 having delivered

00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:57.779
 them from

00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.200
 Egypt,

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.819
 and how

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.319
 He's about

00:29:59.319 --> 00:29:59.740
 to give

00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.980
 them the

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:02.000
 law to

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.519
 create a

00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.299
 covenant with

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.840
 this people

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.519
 saying,

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.100
 I will be

00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:05.519
 your God

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:05.819
 and you

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.080
 will be

00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.640
 my people.

00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.420
 When they

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.960
 show up at

00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.360
 the foot of

00:30:08.360 --> 00:30:08.880
 Mount Sinai,

00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.240
 what does

00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.759
 God do?

00:30:10.140 --> 00:30:10.940
 He shows up

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.559
 and there's

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.140
 an earthquake.

00:30:12.620 --> 00:30:13.380
 The ground

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.160
 trembles.

00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.680
 Why?

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.680
 Because this

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.400
 is a sign

00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:16.960
 of God's

00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.779
 presence with

00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.299
 His people.

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.559
 If we look

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.000
 ahead in

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.779
 Isaiah 6

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.519
 when the

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.200
 prophet has

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.799
 a vision

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.539
 of the throne

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.220
 room of God

00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:25.620
 that He's

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:26.519
 taken into,

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.440
 right?

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.039
 Again,

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.380
 the temple

00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.240
 is shaking.

00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:31.940
 Why?

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.059
 Because it

00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.620
 is God

00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.200
 Himself,

00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.740
 His presence

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.600
 that is being

00:30:36.600 --> 00:30:37.160
 pointed to.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:37.700
 So,

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.059
 the New

00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:38.480
 Testament,

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.759
 so the

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.480
 early church

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.799
 would have

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.660
 known these

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.259
 Old Testament

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:43.799
 themes and

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.000
 would have

00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:44.140
 said,

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.440
 oh,

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.279
 the ground

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:45.860
 is shaking.

00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:47.019
 God must

00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:47.559
 be here,

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.039
 right?

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:48.839
 We'll see it

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.079
 again.

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.559
 God does

00:30:49.559 --> 00:30:49.880
 this in

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.839
 chapter 16

00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:51.500
 to let

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:51.839
 Paul out

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.200
 of prison,

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:52.559
 saying,

00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:52.759
 yeah,

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.079
 I'm with

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.200
 you.

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:53.579
 I'm going

00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:53.819
 to send

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.220
 an earthquake.

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:55.059
 Then all

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.839
 the prisons

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.180
 will get

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.400
 open.

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:56.880
 So,

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.460
 it happens

00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.920
 over and

00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:58.240
 over again.

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:58.960
 This theme,

00:30:59.259 --> 00:30:59.579
 God is

00:30:59.579 --> 00:31:00.140
 reminding them,

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.799
 I am

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.339
 with you.

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:02.980
 And that

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.740
 presence is

00:31:03.740 --> 00:31:04.640
 reinforced by

00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:05.220
 this phrase,

00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.079
 being filled

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.480
 with the

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.140
 Holy Spirit.

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.019
 Now,

00:31:08.120 --> 00:31:08.380
 if you

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:08.819
 haven't

00:31:08.819 --> 00:31:09.160
 gone to

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.380
 Sunday

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:09.799
 school,

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.059
 and you

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.819
 have adult

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.319
 education,

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.600
 and you

00:31:12.600 --> 00:31:13.120
 haven't

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.579
 gotten all

00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:13.960
 this in

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.319
 detail,

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:14.980
 let me

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:15.700
 just remind

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:15.960
 you,

00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.220
 right?

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:16.759
 What

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.100
 happened

00:31:17.100 --> 00:31:17.319
 in

00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.960
 Pentecost

00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.180
 in chapter

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.160
 2 was

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.940
 a unique

00:31:20.940 --> 00:31:21.819
 moment in

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.380
 redemptive

00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:23.420
 history,

00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:24.220
 where the

00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:24.759
 Holy Spirit

00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.420
 was poured

00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:26.039
 out on the

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.900
 gathered church

00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:28.039
 in a unique

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:30.019
 one-time way

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:31.480
 to launch

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:36.060
 the early church

00:31:36.060 --> 00:31:37.480
 and this era

00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:38.100
 of the kingdom

00:31:38.100 --> 00:31:38.640
 of God.

00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.779
 The Holy Spirit

00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.519
 was poured out on

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:40.840
 people,

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:41.519
 the disciples,

00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.800
 and the Holy Spirit

00:31:42.800 --> 00:31:43.700
 dwelled in them

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.420
 at that time

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.060
 in a particular

00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:45.380
 way.

00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.380
 This is not

00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.320
 a repeat

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:49.160
 of Pentecost,

00:31:49.300 --> 00:31:49.740
 but an

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.520
 affirmation

00:31:50.520 --> 00:31:51.500
 of Pentecost.

00:31:51.840 --> 00:31:52.440
 As God

00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:53.660
 fills us

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:54.020
 with His

00:31:54.020 --> 00:31:54.660
 Holy Spirit,

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:55.560
 He is reminding

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:56.240
 us that for

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.800
 all who have

00:31:56.800 --> 00:31:57.120
 put their

00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:57.540
 faith in

00:31:57.540 --> 00:31:57.820
 Christ,

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.500
 He has

00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.240
 already given

00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.660
 us His

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.340
 Holy Spirit

00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.700
 in our

00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.040
 hearts,

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.240
 making us

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.760
 new as

00:32:04.760 --> 00:32:05.260
 a sign

00:32:05.260 --> 00:32:05.900
 and a seal

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.280
 of our

00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:06.640
 redemption

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.820
 until we

00:32:07.820 --> 00:32:08.720
 go to

00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.160
 glory and

00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:09.480
 be with

00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:09.800
 Jesus.

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.480
 And so

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:11.300
 this filling

00:32:11.300 --> 00:32:11.600
 of the

00:32:11.600 --> 00:32:12.260
 Holy Spirit

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:13.119
 is a

00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:14.180
 reaffirmation

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.460
 that not only

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.819
 is God

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.200
 with them,

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:16.559
 but God

00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.059
 has put

00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.720
 Himself

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.759
 in us

00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.160
 in the

00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.480
 form of

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:19.779
 the Holy

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.099
 Spirit

00:32:20.099 --> 00:32:21.079
 to empower

00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.640
 us to

00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:22.279
 live the

00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:23.140
 lives of

00:32:23.140 --> 00:32:23.660
 boldness

00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:24.059
 that they

00:32:24.059 --> 00:32:24.480
 had just

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.140
 prayed for.

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.500
 And we

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.039
 know God

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.579
 answered that

00:32:27.579 --> 00:32:27.819
 prayer.

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:28.099
 Why?

00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.920
 Because it's

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.859
 what we see

00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:30.319
 at the end.

00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.720
 And they

00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.579
 spoke the

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.019
 Word of

00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.379
 God

00:32:32.379 --> 00:32:33.359
 boldly.

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:34.539
 God

00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.079
 empowered

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.440
 them to

00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:36.299
 do exactly

00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:37.240
 what they

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:37.759
 had asked

00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.079
 for,

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:38.940
 that they

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.140
 would

00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.660
 proclaim

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.460
 Jesus

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.940
 more and

00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.240
 more.

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:44.359
 Oh,

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:44.879
 friends,

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.960
 as we

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.519
 think about

00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:48.160
 our culture

00:32:48.160 --> 00:32:48.940
 and navigating

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:49.619
 our world

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:50.099
 today,

00:32:50.799 --> 00:32:51.460
 there are

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.259
 good places

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.759
 for us

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.160
 to seek

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:54.359
 to do

00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:54.879
 good to

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.359
 our city,

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.200
 to think

00:32:56.200 --> 00:32:56.660
 about how

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.019
 we might

00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.559
 influence

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:59.519
 and speak

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:00.680
 words that

00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.220
 would persuade

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.079
 so that our

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.879
 society would

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.299
 be a more

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.240
 righteous society.

00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.420
 But let

00:33:06.420 --> 00:33:06.940
 our hearts

00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.799
 be captured

00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:09.180
 by the

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:09.619
 redemption

00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.140
 that's in

00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:11.460
 Christ Jesus.

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.240
 let our

00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:12.559
 hearts

00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:13.360
 be captured

00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:13.920
 by the

00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:14.680
 glory of

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:15.340
 the gospel

00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:15.960
 of grace

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.840
 and let

00:33:16.840 --> 00:33:17.579
 our mouths

00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.440
 be filled

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.720
 more with

00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:20.160
 that than

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:20.920
 with anything

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.360
 else,

00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:21.980
 that we

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.640
 would speak

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.299
 to others

00:33:23.299 --> 00:33:24.120
 about

00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:25.340
 salvation

00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:26.700
 for all

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.519
 who believe

00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.200
 in Christ

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.579
 Jesus.

00:33:29.160 --> 00:33:29.860
 This would

00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.539
 be the thing

00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.420
 that I would

00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:31.720
 pray.

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.660
 And as we

00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:33.440
 broadly think

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.860
 about our

00:33:33.860 --> 00:33:34.420
 prayer lives,

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.340
 may we ask

00:33:35.340 --> 00:33:35.779
 that God

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.620
 will work

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:37.279
 that more

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.160
 in us

00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:39.200
 so that it

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.640
 may then

00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:40.319
 flow more

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.160
 out of us.

00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.559
 I mentioned

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.100
 the Valley of

00:33:43.100 --> 00:33:43.779
 Vision earlier.

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:44.620
 I'm going to

00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:45.360
 close my sermon

00:33:45.360 --> 00:33:46.059
 by reading a

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.360
 prayer or by

00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:48.259
 praying with

00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.980
 this old saint

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.559
 and I'm going

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.080
 to ask you to

00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:50.860
 pray with me

00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:52.000
 as we pray

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.440
 together.

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.539
 For those of

00:33:53.539 --> 00:33:54.000
 you who know,

00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:54.740
 the Puritans

00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.160
 wrote in

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.880
 older English

00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:56.420
 with these

00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:56.960
 and nows.

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.360
 I have

00:33:57.360 --> 00:33:58.160
 updated this

00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:58.740
 one so don't

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.840
 be surprised

00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:01.080
 if you know

00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:01.620
 this prayer

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:03.380
 and I've

00:34:03.380 --> 00:34:03.960
 edited it

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.819
 for 21st

00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:05.700
 century English.

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:07.500
 So, but

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:07.940
 this is a

00:34:07.940 --> 00:34:08.340
 great chance

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.740
 for us to

00:34:08.740 --> 00:34:09.139
 pray together.

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:09.760
 So please

00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:10.199
 bow your

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.599
 heads and

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.340
 join me as

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.820
 we pray

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.420
 this prayer.

00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:14.980
 Oh God,

00:34:16.059 --> 00:34:16.720
 you are

00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:17.539
 very great.

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.500
 My lot

00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:19.860
 is to

00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.639
 approach you

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.539
 with godly

00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:22.280
 fear and

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:23.280
 humble confidence

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.720
 for your

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.679
 condescension

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:26.579
 equals your

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.800
 grandeur and

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.360
 your goodness

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.400
 is your

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:29.840
 glory.

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:31.780
 I am

00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:32.380
 unworthy

00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.119
 but you

00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.940
 welcome.

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.380
 Guilty

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:36.119
 but you

00:34:36.119 --> 00:34:36.780
 are merciful.

00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:37.559
 Poor

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:38.659
 but your

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.360
 riches are

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.400
 unsearchable.

00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.599
 You have

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.500
 shown boundless

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.579
 compassion toward

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.380
 me by not

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:45.200
 sparing your

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:46.460
 son and by

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.019
 giving me

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.880
 freely all

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.380
 things in

00:34:48.380 --> 00:34:48.639
 him.

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.280
 This is the

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:50.920
 foundation of

00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:51.500
 my hope,

00:34:52.220 --> 00:34:52.940
 the refuge

00:34:52.940 --> 00:34:53.360
 of my

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.820
 safety,

00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:54.900
 the new

00:34:54.900 --> 00:34:55.340
 and living

00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:55.920
 way to

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.260
 you,

00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.000
 the means

00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:58.220
 of that

00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:58.800
 conviction

00:34:58.800 --> 00:34:59.519
 of sin,

00:34:59.679 --> 00:35:00.159
 brokenness

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:00.639
 of heart,

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.159
 and self

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.720
 despair which

00:35:02.720 --> 00:35:03.820
 will endear

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.400
 me to

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.100
 the gospel.

00:35:07.100 --> 00:35:08.200
 Happy are

00:35:08.200 --> 00:35:08.820
 they who

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:09.760
 are Christ's

00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.860
 in him

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:11.400
 at peace

00:35:11.400 --> 00:35:12.059
 with you,

00:35:13.220 --> 00:35:13.660
 justified

00:35:13.660 --> 00:35:14.740
 from all

00:35:14.740 --> 00:35:15.260
 things,

00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.240
 delivered

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:16.980
 from coming

00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.460
 wrath,

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.600
 made heirs

00:35:18.600 --> 00:35:19.100
 of future

00:35:19.100 --> 00:35:19.559
 glory.

00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:21.519
 Give me

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.820
 such deadness

00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:23.240
 to the

00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:23.680
 world,

00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:25.000
 such love

00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:26.840
 to the

00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.220
 Savior,

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.620
 such attachment

00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:29.360
 to his

00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:29.820
 house,

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:31.500
 such devotedness

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.079
 to his

00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.719
 service,

00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.139
 as proves

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:34.940
 me a

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.320
 subject

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.179
 of his

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:36.699
 salvation.

00:35:37.880 --> 00:35:38.780
 May every

00:35:38.780 --> 00:35:39.460
 part of my

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.139
 character and

00:35:40.139 --> 00:35:41.420
 conduct make

00:35:41.420 --> 00:35:42.199
 a serious

00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:43.280
 and amiable

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.820
 impression

00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:46.000
 on others

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:47.159
 and impel

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.199
 them to ask

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.920
 the way

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.360
 to the

00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:49.780
 master.

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.400
 Let no

00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:52.139
 incident of

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.559
 life,

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:53.519
 pleasing or

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.039
 painful,

00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:55.440
 injure the

00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.340
 prosperity of

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.099
 my soul,

00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.719
 but rather

00:35:58.719 --> 00:35:59.559
 increase it.

00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:01.119
 send me

00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.880
 your help,

00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:02.940
 for your

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:03.719
 appointments are

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:05.019
 not meant to

00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.440
 make me

00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.420
 independent of

00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:06.699
 you,

00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:08.440
 and the

00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.099
 best means

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.820
 will be vain

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:11.440
 without super

00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:12.779
 added blessings

00:36:12.779 --> 00:36:13.579
 from you.

00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.059
 In Jesus'

00:36:15.299 --> 00:36:15.880
 name I pray,

00:36:16.739 --> 00:36:17.019
 amen.

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:18.199
 Amen.

00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:18.340
 Amen.

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:18.400
 Amen.

00:36:18.820 --> 00:36:19.340
 Amen.

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:19.400
 Amen.

00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:19.900
 Amen.

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:19.900


00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:19.960
 Amen.

00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:20.019
 Amen.

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:20.019